Tracy The Jet’s Melton trial proved the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
The squaregaiter is the half-sister to unbeaten superstar, Derek The Jet. The Jess Tubbs-prepared filly caught the eye of Harness Racing Victoria form guru, Craig Rail.
“Tracy The Jet trailed the leader throughout and lost ground on the home turn but there was a lot to like about the way she got to the line as she made up a lot of ground on the winner in the final 100m,” Rail said.
Rail also added Franco Novelist, Goodtime Cortez and Lovemeto to his file this week.
TRIAL REPORT 288
SHEPPARTON 24/10/24
Trial 1: – CHANGEOVER GIRL enjoyed a nice trail behind the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. She sprinted home nicely in the home straight to win clearly and will be backing up at Cobram on Sunday. ALBY TWO CHAINS settled three back on the outside, moved onto the back of CHANGEOVER GIRL in the home straight and never peeled to the outside at any stage. He went to the line under a throttle hold and came out at Bendigo five days later to secure his first victory since February 2024. FRANCO NOVELIST NZ settled down last of the six runners, came out three horses wide with 300m remaining and finished off stylishly for a game third. BIG BAD OSSIE (4 back markers) was fourth across the line and the early leader SEBS CHOICE finished in fifth.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.6 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 6m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Franco Novelist NZ
Trial 2: – NUGGET ROGERS showed good gate speed to lead and dominated his rivals to win by a big space. He followed with a victory at Bendigo on Tuesday night, where again he was able to lead throughout. GUARANTEED END settled four back on the markers early, ended up being three back when YESNOLETSGO galloped at the mile marker and worked into a distant second late. She is scheduled to compete at Cobram on Sunday. ULTIMATE EGO finished in third after trailing the leader for the majority of the trial.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.1 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 20m, 40m
Trial 4: – JIMMY BREEZE NZ was stood down to trial after breaking stride at his latest racetrack appearance but he quickly bounced back with his emphatic victory in the final event. He was three back on the markers in the early stages, moved into the death seat at the half mile marker and drew well clear at the end for an impressive victory. KEAYANG ALEX settled down last of the five runners, moved into the running lane in the back straight (1-2) and finished off nicely out wide on the track for second. FRUGAL FARE was four back on the markers, gained the trail behind JIMMY BREEZE NZ in the back straight and paced roughly on the home turn. He couldn’t regather momentum and finished a distant third ahead of the early leader UPRIGHT.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 12m, 8m
BACCHUS MARSH 26/10/24
Trial 1: – VIRGINIA CLOWERS NZ is competing in the Swan Hill Trotters Cup this evening and was able to tune up for that performance with a trial victory from the standing start at Bacchus Marsh. She hasn’t started since winning the Menangle Trotters Cup on September 28 but she has had a terrific season. TRIPOD NZ finished in second position with COVER OF DARKNESS being last of the three runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.0 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 4m, 15m
Trial 2: – MONSIEUR FLAMEL has been unplaced at his past three attempts but was a winner at Wagga on September 21. He was able to build some confidence leading into his performance at Geelong this afternoon with a comfortable victory in the second event. YNOBE DAKOTA was the second horse to cross the line and DON KATTERZ finished in third position. DON KATTERZ is also backing up at Geelong today.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 60.2 Margins: – 4m, 4m
Trial 3: – RYMES has a lot of ability when he is able to trot through as indicated by his victory at Kilmore on October 10. He won his trial at Bacchus Marsh by a large margin then unfortunately broke stride shortly after the start at his trial performance at Melton on Tuesday afternoon, where he picked up a lot of ground. He is racing at Geelong today and will be hard to beat if he trots throughout but he does have a lot of gait issues. WILCANNIA finished second in the trial and was well ahead of the third placed LARAS DREAM.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.7 Last Half: – 63.5 Margins: – 25m, 40m
Trial 6: – TOPSIES BLING has been racing consistently and kept the momentum rolling with an easy trial victory over WRITTEN IN SILK in fast time. She should run her usual honest race at Cobram on Sunday. WRITTEN IN SILK has been unplaced at her past three racetrack appearances but she was able to string together five straight victories prior to that. She finished in second with GLENLEA HANOVER being in third and TALLULAH LEE finishing in fourth. WRITTEN IN SILK competed at Ballarat on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.0 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 6m, 4m
Trial 8: – GOODTIME CORTEZ was able to win the final trial by a large margin. He is an unraced gelding by Lazarus out of the race winning mare Art De Triomphe, which has already produced the classy performers Goodtime Grace (1.54.6), Petillante (1.53.4) and Gawn (1.53.7). The second dam is the American bred mare Smyrna Duruisseau (1.56.0), which has produced eight winners including the outstanding pacer and now sire Follow The Stars (1.53.8, $707,237) so GOODTIME CORTEZ certainly has the breeding to suggest he should be able to win races. He defeated LEVI EDISON with DELTA STARZ being the third horse to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 61.3 Margins: – 15m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Goodtime Cortez
ECHUCA 27/10/24
Trial 1: – SIRIUS MAJOR was able to win at his debut performance in 2022 then was placed in three of his next eleven attempts. He hasn’t raced since August 2023 but was able to win his trial after settling four back on the markers and angling out wide on the home turn. He got up narrowly over the early leader COURTS BLISS with the trotter OPRAH DOUBLE YOU doing a very good job to finish in third after being slowly away and settling in fifth before powering along the sprint lane. OPRAH DOUBLE YOU is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. COURTS BLISS is racing at Cobram on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 60.7 Margins: – Short ½ Head, Head
Trial 2: – ACE MONTANA began quickly to find the lead and was able to hold off his rivals to get the prize. He is backing up on the Swan Hill Cup program this evening, where he is taking on a small field. LOVE WATCH settled three back on the markers and finished off well for second with LIFE IN PINK bring the last horse to cross the line after trailing the leader throughout. LIFE IN PINK is competing at Cobram on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – Neck, 2m
MILDURA 28/10/24
Trial 1: – FLOJOS BEST continued her impressive run at the trials with an easy victory. She was second early but progressed forward to find the lead with 1400m remaining and dominated her rivals in the run to the finish. SUPER SUSPECT finished in second after settling in fourth and moving into the one out and one back trail in the back straight on the final occasion. RUBBLE ON THE DOUBLE settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 600m and was the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.7 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 10m, 2.5m
Trial 2: – MEMPHIS BLASTER NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has joined trainer Luke Watson. He was able to win at Addington at his last New Zealand attempt and he appeared to have something in reserve in his comfortable trial victory. He trailed the leader, moved to the outside at the 600m mark, paced a little roughly coming up to the home turn but was able to get the job done in handy fashion. VILLAGE LOVER finished in second after setting the speed and BETTER DOO NZ (3 back markers) was the third horse to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 60.6 Margins: – 2.5m, 30m
Trial 4: – RIO ROCK prepared for her tilt at the Swan Hill Pacing Cup with a victory over IMPERIALS REASON. She began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a reasonable tempo and was able to get away in the run to the finish. IMPERIALS REASON has returned to Victoria after having three starts in South Australia. At her past four racetrack appearances, she has had three different trainers (Emma Stewart, Dale Afford, Ryan Hryhorec) and she is now being prepared by Naomi Kerr. She was four back on the markers, gained a one out and one back trail behind KEAYANG MOROCCAN with 1200m remaining and came out three horses wide at the quarter pole. KEAYANG MOROCCAN was third after being without cover throughout and LOUIEVILLE (trailed leader) was the last horse home.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.1 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 7m, Head
Trial 5: – OUR MASTER PLAY began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a decent tempo and got away from his rivals over the concluding stages. He is backing up at Swan Hill tonight and has the perfect trailing draw so he should perform well. MAYTHEHORSEBWITHU settled three back on the markers and was able to work into second, finishing well clear of the third placed THE TOOTH FAIRY, which trailed the leader throughout. THE TOOTH FAIRY is backing up at Swan Hill this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – 12m, 20m
MELTON 29/10/24
Trial 1: – DISTANT SUN is a quality 3yo trotter, which competed in the Group 1 Super Series Final at his latest attempt. He began quickly to find the lead and was able to win his trial comfortably. ARENA ROCK is yet to face the starter so she did very well to finish in second. She settled three back on the inside, came to the outside with 300m remaining and finished on well at the end. KYVALLEY ANTHONY settled in fourth, raced keenly in the middle stages and got up for third ahead of NO SURPRISES (5 back markers).
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 59.21 Margins: – 4.5m, Neck
Trial 2: – LOVEMETO NZ was able to defeat the top trotter CALLMETHEBREEZE FRA in the open class trotting event. He found the lead, dashed home in a sizzling final quarter of 27.29 seconds and still appeared to be strong at the finish so it was an impressive display. CALLMETHEBREEZE FRA settled down last of the three runners, came to the outside at the 400m and chased hard in fast closing sectionals. SHES RUBY ROO trailed the leader and finished last of the three runners in a quality trial.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.2 Last Half: – 56.93 Margins: – 2m, 8.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Lovemeto NZ
Trial 3: – JUST AS WELL NZ began quickly to find the lead and finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.16 seconds to hold his two rivals at bay. FINAL COLLECT NZ did very well to finish as close as he did, considering he settled last of the three runners and came to the outside in the sprint up the home straight. HES A MEISTER NZ trailed the leader and was last of the three runners across the line but he wasn’t fully extended at any stage. He is backing up at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.3 Last Half: – 55.81 Margins: – ½ Neck, 3m
Trial 6: – JUST PEDRO began well but was left without cover early, restrained to be three back on the markers then moved up without cover again with 600m remaining so he delivered a tidy display to get the prize. NETRA NZ finished in second position after settling four back on the markers and moving into the one out and one back trail behind JUST PEDRO. HAMMER DAN settled in fifth and worked home well as did AXE AND DEEZ, which came from six back on the markers to run into fourth. FEARLESS WRITER showed very good gate speed to lead but peaked in the straight to finish in fifth. He is backing up at Geelong this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.2 Last Half: – 57.80 Margins: – ½ Head, 8.5m
Trial 7: – G B BRAVE NZ began very quickly to find the lead shortly after the start. He finished off in handy final sectionals to get the prize. THE VILLAIN produced a very nice effort to fill second spot. He was without cover early, restrained to be four back on the markers and ran home strongly out wide late. THE BLAZINBOOTS settled three back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 800m mark and battled on well for third.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.1 Last Half: – 56.79 Margins: – 1.5m, 4m
Trial 8: – SAM NIEN began quickly to lead, kicked clear on the home turn and was able to win his trial nicely. TRACY THE JET trailed the leader throughout and lost ground on the home turn but there was a lot to like about the way she got to the line as she made up a lot of ground on the winner in the final 100m. She is by Love You out of the former top mare Cyclone Jeter (1.58.4), the winner in ten of her twenty starts and is the dam of the outstanding Group 1 winning trotter Derek The Jet (1.57.0), which remains undefeated in nine starts. WHATS UP THE HILL settled four back on the markers and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 58.15 Margins: – 3.5m, 21m
BLACKBOOKER: – Tracy The Jet
